Update on Negotiations for a Canadian Base Code of Labour Practice

From Maquila Solidarity Network, for the Ethical Trading Action
Group, 8 March 2000

Dear Friends,

This note is to update you on the status of negotiations for a
Canadian Base Code of Labour Practice for the apparel, footwear and
related consumer products industries, and to once again enlist your
support to help get negotiations back on track.

In December 1999, we reported that negotiations were stalled over
fundamental labour rights issues, including the right to organize and
bargain collectively. We launched a holiday season campaign, urging
the Hudson's Bay and Sears Canada to provide leadership to ensure
the successful negotiation of a Canadian code based on ILO
Conventions, with provisions for independent verification.

In response to hundreds of letters from groups and individuals across
Canada and an open letter signed by six religious leaders, the
Hudson's Bay and Sears Canada agreed to meet with ETAG, and the Retail
Council and the Apparel Manufactures Federation to discuss how we
might overcome the stalemate in negotiations. That meeting took place
March 6.

The Retail Council has finally put forward a proposal on freedom of
association. Unfortunately, that proposal is totally unacceptable
because it does not recognize the right of workers to organize and
bargain collectively. The Council has made it clear that it is not
prepared to move beyond their current position. While the right to
organize and bargain collectively is not the only issue in dispute,
the Retail Council's refusal to recognize this fundamental human
right is blocking progress on other issues.

In order to break this deadlock, we have offered to continue code
discussions with any grouping of companies and/or associations that
are willing to accept the ILO's four fundamental human rights at
the workplace, including the right to organize and bargain
collectively, and the principle of independent verification as the
starting point for further discussions. (These four core labour
rights are binding on all ILO member states, whether or not they have
adopted specific ILO conventions.)

ETAG is now awaiting a response from the companies and associations to
our proposal to restart code negotiations. At the same time, there is
a very real danger that the Retail Council will release its code
proposal publicly, without civil society's endorsement or support,
and declare it the ethical guidelines for the industry.

For code negotiations to move forward, key retailers, including the
Hudson's Bay and Sears Canada, must break rank with the Retail
Council and commit themselves to the four ILO fundamental rights at
the workplace, plus the principle of independent verification, as the
basis for a Canadian code. Once we gain agreement on core labour
rights and independent verification, we can then discuss other issues,
such as minimum standards on wages and hours of work, and code
implementation.

You can help get code negotiations off life support and back on their
feet by writing to the Hudson's Bay and Sears Canada. We've
included contact information and a sample letter below.

Thank you for your support.

MSN

P.S. We've received word that a new union organizing drive is
underway at a maquila in Honduras, led by an incredible team of women
maquila workers. We will send information soon on how you can support
this innovative campaign. This International Women's Day, which
commemorates a March 8, 1857 strike by US women garment workers,
let's reaffirm our commitment to the struggles of the hundreds of
thousands of women labouring behind the labels to make our clothes,
shoes and toys.

Thank them for participating in the March 6 Working Group meeting and
for their efforts to help get code negotiations back on track.

Urge their companies to ensure that code negotiations continue, by
committing themselves to core labour rights, including the right of
workers to organize and bargain collectively, and the principle of
independent verification as the starting point of further discussions.

SAMPLE LETTER (Please write your own, and send the MSN a copy.)

Dear Mr. Crisp / Kitson,

I/we are writing to thank you for participating in the March 6
meeting of the CPET Working Group, and for your efforts to help get
negotiations for a Canadian code of labour practice back on
track. Continued positive efforts by you and your company will
certainly increase consumer confidence that Hudson's Bay /
Sears Canada takes the issue of sweatshop abuses seriously.

I/we urge your company to continue to show positive leadership in
this process by committing yourselves to the ILO's four core
labour rights, including the right of workers to organize and bargain
collectively, and the principle of independent verification as the
starting point for further code discussions. A code that does not
guarantee these fundamental human rights, and that does not have the
support and participation of civil society, will not be credible with
members of my/our constituency, many of whom shop at your stores
and buy your products.

I/we realize that all Canadian retailers and manufacturers may not
be prepared at this time to endorse these fundamental human rights at
the workplace as the basis for a Canadian code. However, your company
and other responsible firms have an opportunity to demonstrate your
ethical leadership on this important issue, which other companies will
eventually follow.

Thank you again for your serious attention to this issue. We look
forward to hearing more about your company's involvement in this
very promising initiative.

Yours truly,

The Ethical Trading Action (ETAG) coordinates civil society
participation in negotiations with industry representatives for a
Canadian Base Code of Labour Practice. ETAG members include: Canadian
Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), Canadian Labour
Congress (CLC), Ten Days for Global Justice, Labour Behind the Label
Coalition, Steelworkers Humanity Fund, and Union of Needletrades,
Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE). The Maquila Solidarity
Network acts as the ETAG secretariat.